[Asterisk-Users] IP to IP call without server?

[Wilson Pickett]

> What's the diff. between FWD and Skype other than Skype uses proprietary
> solution? I'm getting a little confused with these softphones and
> provider companies. I cant tell what's so great of one from the other.
> Is there something special about FWD I'm missing that make it better
> than other solution like Skype? Thanks!

Skype can only work with their software AFAIK. FWD works with many,
many clients.

The most important issue with Skype is that is works with no
adjustments to your computer and it doesn't care about NAT routers. It
also is supposedly encrypted end to end and has built in free
conferencing for some small limited number of users. Since it's free
and one wouldn't be likely to build a huge commercial app around it,
it makes no difference that it is proprietory, you'd just drop it if
it no longer works for you.

FWD and many other free services will also work and they use a
standard protocol (SIP) to set your session up. They will all require
some screwing around to get them to work and I have never tried one
that worked anywhere near as reliably or with as good quality as
Skype.

Skype is the Microsoft of voIP in some ways ;)

However, discussing skype and ip to ip calling is not the subject of
this list, so I'll now shut up.